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From Alan Bowman and David Thomas, Vindolanda: the Latin writing
tablets London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies,
1983, pp. 275
Under this heading we have collected 53 texts which merit a full
edition and cannot be shown to belong with any of the groups of
correspondence which we have identified; it is possible, however,
that some of them belong with other groups, particularly the correspondence
of Cerialis which is by far the largest. The range of correspondents
and subjects is varied and there are several very interesting and
important texts. 343
is the longest of all the letters found at Vindolanda and casts
a valuable light on the economic and entrepreneurial activity in
the frontier region; 309
attests the despatch of components for wagons and there are two
texts which certainly or probably concern the quarrying of stone
(314
and 316).
A fragmentary text which is probably part of a letter clearly attests
the very important fact that a census was being (or was to be) carried
out, perhaps in the earlier part of the 90s (304),
and military or official activities are also recorded in 345.
More intriguing is 344,
coming from the same milieu as 343
and three important accounts (180-182),
in which the writer complains to a high official about maltreatment
and beating, perhaps by a centurion. A more fragmentary text may
contain a similar petition or appeal about the theft of a balteus
(322)
and judicial activity may also be mentioned in 317
(cf. 281).
312
refers to a debt and to the imminent arrival of someone, presumably
at the place to which the letter was addressed, perhaps Coria Textoverdorum.
More personal matters are reflected in 310,
to the governor's equisio, and 311,
in which the sender complains about the addressee's failure to write.
346
records the despatch of what are probably personal gifts of clothing.
Domestic and social matters are represented in 301,
concerning items for the celebration of the Saturnalia, and 302,
the provision of foodstuffs, including chickens, apples, eggs and
olives.
Equestrian officers are represented in this correspondence (315,
319,
345,
probably 318
and possibly 305).
It is harder to be sure about the lower ranks: we have the governor's
equisio in 310
and a duplicarius in 312;
346
reads as if it concerns people of modest status but that cannot
be proved. The servile sector is quite well represented (301,
303,
347,
probably 302
and perhaps 311
and 341).
There is one letter which is probably from a woman and is certainly
not addressed to Sulpicia Lepidina (324).
As for the hands, we have not been able to identify any groups
of letters by common hands but it should be noted that 313
is written by the same hand as one of the letters to Saecularis
(213),
and the hand of Chrauttius, correspondent of the governor's equisio
(310),
is very probably also in evidence in the correspondence of Cerialis
(264).
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